Toby the teacup poodle was “a bundle of joy” and was “like a son” to his owner Topekan Curtiss Chase.

But on Saturday afternoon at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the 3.5-pound, 11-year-old dog was attacked and killed by a German shepherd walking in the parade. Both dogs were on leashes.

The male German shepherd was a dog with Saving Death Row Dogs — a no-kill rescue and foster group in Topeka.

The incident happened at the corner of S.W. 10th and Jackson as Toby, Chase and his family were watching the parade.

“(Toby) always watched the parade with me,” Chase said. “He always went everywhere I went. He was watching the candy fall on the ground, hoping he could grab some. He loved food.

“I saw the (German shepherd) briefly, just glanced at it, wasn’t paying any attention, at first, and I just looked down at Toby, and looked back up, and the next thing I know this dog lunged towards Toby — because Toby was right out in front of me — and snagged him up in his mouth by the head.”

Chase said he and his family were standing behind the police-monitored line out of the path of the parade when the incident happened and said throughout the day Toby “was walking in front of me, but I tried to keep him controlled the best I could.”

Saving Death Row Dogs director Jan Price told The Topeka Capital-Journal the poodle ran up to the German shepherd.

“We were all just horrified,” said Price, who didn’t see the incident. “We just never thought this would happen.”

Price said she and other members of the organization were walking with their dogs in the parade when the attack occurred.

Chase immediately began screaming and grabbed the bigger dog, trying to pry his jaws open. Chase said someone — possibly a member of Death Row Dogs — was hitting the German shepherd on top of his head trying to get it to drop Toby.

“I finally got Toby out of there, but it was not pretty,” Chase said. “He passed away before we could even leave the parade. He died in my arms.”

Price said she is upset and personally wouldn’t want to walk in another parade with the dogs again.

She disputed social media chatter that the group just walked away from the scene, saying the volunteer walking the dog removed him from the parade line. Police told the group to “move on,” Price said.

Animal control filed a report Sunday morning, Chase said.

St. Patrick’s Day organizers declined to comment on the incident, while neither police nor animal control officials could speak on the issue Sunday.

According to Price, the German shepherd isn’t aggressive but did have an incident with another smaller dog several weeks ago. She said the dog ran up to the German shepherd, which grabbed the smaller animal in its teeth but didn’t break the skin or cause injury.

Price said she and other directors of Saving Death Row Dogs need to discuss where they will go from here.

“First and foremost, our hearts go out to the family (of the poodle),” Price said. “It was horrifying for us, too.”

Saving Death Row Dogs was founded in June 2010 and has taken in more than 650 dogs. Price said they rescue dogs who need to be rehomed for various reasons, such as their owner was unable to potty-train them.

Chase said if he was angry at anyone, it wasn’t the dog but the organization.

“From what I understand, the dog did have a history of being aggressive towards small dogs and being jittery in crowds,” Chase said. “So what I’m angry at is more likely the group that was handling the dogs. I don’t think they were properly trained how to handle these dogs.

“If they have any problem with aggression, should (the dogs) have really been in the parade? What if it happened to a small child? I mean it happened to my dog. I think it was poor judgment on the organization having this dog in the parade.”

Toby, which Chase called “a people dog,” had been with the family since he was 10 weeks old.

“He fit inside the palm of my hand when we brought him home,” Chase said. “He grew up with us.”

While Chase’s kids were older when Toby first came home, he had been a favorite of the grandchildren in the family, who were younger than the small dog.

Toby went everywhere with Chase, he said, whether it was riding in the truck or into the yard to help with gardening. He would even go to nursing homes with Chase, who would sing to the residents.

“The residents loved him,” Chase said. “He’d wander around the dining room watching and stuff, looking for food and entertaining the residents. It’s going to break their heart when they find Toby’s no longer with me.”

Chase said the family’s church pastor came over Sunday and did a brief service with the dog.

“I know some people are like, ‘Oh it’s just a dog,’ ” Chase said. “But to me he was a member of our family.”

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those who have been through doggie rehab and come from abusive or neglected environments into a parade situation with all manner of noise, other dogs, strangers etc does not seem a very good idea, imo. even those who have done beautifully in rehab are still dogs with issues...such a situation as a noisy parade environment could easily stress them and they could potentially get aggressive. this is a tragic end to what should have been a fun day for all involved. for the sake of both families involved and the dogs, please rethink the parades...

Ok - where was the poodle owner ? Was their poodle on a leash ? Story says it "RAN UP TO THR SHEPARD" well you run up to me unexpected and you'll probably get something you're not expecting also... But we must blame the dog for being defensive... Seems to me from what's printed the shepard was in it's rights. But then this is the story as CJ wants it to read...

the dog down? Come on. It wasn't HIS FAULT! German shepards are wonderful loving dogs if raised correctly. This is the owners fault - not the dogs. Why do you want to kill the dog? Jeezzzz Catsncats is right and Mr. K, I am sorry your son had to witness this - all because of irresponsible people.

The GSD should not have been in that environment; however, I see so many little dogs act aggressive - charging, barking, etc. , and people think because they are little they are harmless. They can cause a very stressful situation for the handler of a larger dog who may act on instinct. They need to be controlled just as closely as a large dog. Very sad for the family who really loved that little dog.

There a members of these "salvation dog groups" that just won't admit to themselves that some cannot be saved, possibly through no fault of their own. And cannot be around people or other dogs and NEED to be put down to prevent this kind of tragedy.

The teacup poodle could have been a small child that just wanted to "pet the puppy".

We had our own Labrador put down several years ago because he could no longer be trusted with our children. We had him as a puppy and he grew up with them. He had an infection and after the stress of the intestinal surgery he was never the same.

He turned on our daughter at home with us present thank goodness and we got him outside before she was bitten or attacked. We had him put down the next day by the vet.

apologize. I guess i'm so used to seeing people want to kill animals that I misread your post. I can't imagine the poodle owner would want the shepard put down if they area a true dog lover. They will realize it was the owner's fault.

As someone said earlier, German Shepards can be great dogs. Unfortunately, backyard breeders have ruined them. The temperament of the dog is just as important as the conformation, and both need to be judged by unbiased judges..until championship prior to breeding. And it doesn't stop there! The owners need to be well versed in the breed and positive reinforcement based training and correct socialization...not Cesaer Milan garbage or worse!

First, there needs to be a clear explanation of aggressive vs. reactive behavior. Very few dogs are truly aggressive, and ones labeled at such typically have underlying medical issues such as pain or thyroid issues. Most dog bites occur from reactive dogs AFTER the dog has given several warning signs (yawning, panting, avoiding eye contact..also called half moon eyes, licking the air, growling, showing teeth, etc.). A dog can be reactive to men, women, children, big dogs, small dogs, crates, etc. The reactive behavior can occur from mistreatment, bad experiences, or poor socialization.

Now, this particular situation could have been prevented had the GS been left at his foster home. He is clearly dog reactive...not aggressive. For this particular dog, I do believe he needs to be humanely euthanized and I'll explain why. I strongly believe is responsible adoption and rehabilitation practices. This rescue does not do this! They do open adoption events which means no spay/neuter prior, no home visit, no vet reference check prior, no family interview, etc. These practices set any dog up for failure in all honesty. Because of these practices, this dog will not be placed with a knowledgable owner. Second, since this dog has reacted at least twice now, it is becoming obvious that the dog is extremely scared and a nervous wreck. Dogs suffering from behavior issues are just as miserable as dogs suffering from injuries. IF he was able to be placed, he would require thousand of hour of work with a behaviorist (this profession is different from just a trainer). Behaviorist are expensive, and the closest one is in KC, MO. And all that will do is teach the owner to simply work with the dog's behavior and cues. It will never fix the problem.

Now IF the poodle did run up to my GS, that behavior isn't excused either. Little dogs often get away with acting like jerks because they are small...hence why dachshund and Chi's are 1 and 2 on the "biting list."

I had the pleasure of meeting this doggie.... I am the activity director at a senior care home where his daddy came to sing and he always brought Toby with him.

Toby was a sweet gentle little soul. There is no way he would have charged a German Shepard. He probably couldn't even have seen him all that well. He may have gone up to say hello, but he would not have been aggressive.

My first thought is for the family of this dog who I know loved him dearly. He was a cute, cuddly little guy who didn't know a stranger. I am so, so sorry that this happened. He did not deserve it.

I know what you are going through. I lost an elderly dog to a traumatic accident a few years ago, and when I heard about this, before I even realized I knew the people and dog involved, my heart ached.

I also am thinking how we are going to explain to one of our residents that Toby won't be coming back. She LOVED him and talked about him all the time.... she would ask if Toby was coming this weekend.... she looked forward to seeing him more than seeing the people! I have no idea how she is going to react.

As for the German shepherd, it concerns me a little that if he has a history of being aggressive with small dogs, why they would choose to bring him to a parade. I hope that they (the rescue) can figure something out that does not involve euthanasia. Someone in that dog's past did not take the time to train him properly. That is not his fault. Some dogs see little dogs as prey. They have to be trained to understand that they are not. My family always had German Shepherds when I was growing up and I love them dearly. However, I know that at this point in my life, I could not own one because they take alot of work and need a firm hand. I would not be able to provide that right now. If there is blame involved, I blame the people who had the dog in the first place and gave him up. I realize I don't know the story of how he came to be in the shelter, but still... he ended up there, and that in itself is a tragedy.

At any rate, to the Chase family, I am so sorry. I know that there is a void in your heart that will not go away, and it is especially hard when you have to witness a violent death like that. I know - I have been there.

I will be praying for you guys. I will see you when you come to my work place the next time and we will all feel the void that Toby's absence will bring..... I am so sorry.

Saving Death Row Dogs (SDRD) has always been a questionable organization IMO, due to the fact that the majority of the dogs they adopt out are puppies, not dogs they saved from "death row".
What was SDRD thinking when they brought a dog like that to the parade? Obviously, Price and her group are VERY STUPID!!! Before SDRD appears in public again, they need to obtain some dog handling skills and most of all, some common sense.
In this article, Jan Price said "the poodle ran up to the German shepherd". How does she know...since the article also states that Price didn't see the incident. Price is trying to put the blame on the teacup poodle.....shame on her. The liability for this incident falls on Jan Price and SDRD.
Several former members of SDRD said they left the organization because "Jan Price is CRAZY".......sounds like they are right!!

This should never have happened. This is an inexperienced group who does not know anything about their dogs because many of them are housed in a boarding kennel. When dogs spend too much time confined, they often become aggressive and unsocialized. In addition, a responsible rescue NEVER jeopardizes the safety of the community which was done here. The person holding the dog was probably some volunteer who could not control the dog. This is a group who has had many complaints, and one can see why. The owner of this group should be held responsible. We are all so sad for the family who will never get over this trauma....it is a picture they will not be able to erase, nor will the onlookers.

I agree with tiger38.
SDRD gives all "Rescues" a bad name.
I can only hope that this tragic incident will help put SDRD out of business.
I am so sorry that the Chase family and Toby had to be victims of SDRD.

That poor couple holding there dog in ther arms as they came threw the crowd so many questions but with that being said German Shepards are a wonderful dog when treated and trained right. I saw the pain in there eyes as they walked passed me and as a dog lover I truely felt there pain, This dog should have never been brought to a parade because as its nature to react first there were hundreds of people with ankle biters that brought them to the parade and to an alpha dog they are a toy I witnessed there pain but you cant blame a dog for being a dog. "Just A Thought".....

But that dog should have never been there I am referring to the German Shepard not the poodle and anyone that knows anything about them without proper training this kind of thing will happen my thoughts and prayers go out to the owners of there loss its like losing a child. Train your volenteers get your idea but your saving death row dogs and yet a dog died. "Just A Thought.

I happen to know this organization and several of it's members intimately. I am very disturbed regarding posted comments that are bad-mouthing and stating false accusations and spreading hideous rumors about SDRD.

One commenter stated this organization adopts out mainly puppies and also stated ,"They do open adoption events which means no spay/neuter prior, no home visit, no vet reference check prior, no family interview, etc.". This comment is entirely a falsehood for which there is no justification and a comment whose intent is questionable.

SDRD most certainly does spay/neuter each and every dog; no exceptions are made. SDRD requires a lengthy application to be completed that requests detailed information including a history of all past pets including length of time with owner, age at death, reason for death, veterinary contact information and much more. SDRD requires an interview with all family members present and requires a meeting with the dog and family and observation of interaction, etc. SDRD requires a home visit to determine suitability of the home, it's safety for the dog, it's backyard/fence, etc. SDRD requires veterinarian be contacted after adoption and requires follow-up. SDRD requires ALL dogs be thoroughly examined by a veterinarian upon rescue and all dogs are given all vaccinations, worming and any other medical needs as the veterinarian determines. SDRD microchips their dogs. SDRD does have dogs participate in activities at Dirty Dogs which is a doggie daycare and far from just a 'boarding facility'; in this way dogs can be observed regarding their social skills with other dogs, their behavior, their eating habits, their temperament, etc. Additionally, all dogs are professionally bathed, groomed and nails are clipped. Most importantly, the dogs are also given training and are also then placed in loving, capable foster homes.

Not even Helping Hands Humane Shelter provides all of these services, safeguards and care for their animals. Furthermore, SDRD does NOT kill their animals.

SDRD is extremely thorough and extremely dedicated to the welfare of their dogs and to the appropriate match and placement of their dogs, including follow-up.

Last summer, two very loved furry members of my family died within 2 months of each other, one at 15 yrs old and the other at 15 1/2 yrs old; each I had had since they were small puppies. It was so very traumatic and devastating. I have always had dogs since I was born and all have lived to very old ages and I am devoted to their loving care. I have always been an active advocate for animals and have always been a member and participant of HHHS.

I had the pleasure to experience SDRD hands-on 6 months ago as I was searching for a furry companion. SDRD, for a very long time, has a partnership with PetSmart. Every Saturday from 11 AM to 2 PM, SDRD brings adoptable dogs to PetSmart so people can meet the dogs, interact with the dogs and talk with SDRD staff regarding adoptions. They also have a website where their dogs are pictured along with a brief bio/description of the dog.

I saw a picture of a dog that captured my heart and completed the on-line application, was then later contacted by SDRD and they arranged to have the dog at PetSmart the following Saturday so I could meet him. And, meet we did. I was able to walk him around on a leash at PetSmart, talk about his background, health, behavior, etc. Later, a home visit was arranged and, then, I adopted this wonderful furry friend. This sweet dog had been neutered, given all vaccinations, had been de-wormed, bathed/groomed/nails trimmed, licensed, had been trained and knew all his commands, was potty-trained AND micro-chipped by SDRD. I was given all the paperwork from the veterinarian, from Dirty Dogs about his stay with them describing daily behaviors, food habits, socialization with other dogs (and their cat), the commands he knew and all other background information.

And, my furry friend had been abused and was a young dog. He was very wary of people, scared, easily startled, sweet, loving. With every day, this wonderful dog slowly explored his new home and surroundings and slowly learned to feel safe, stable and loved. And his personality continues to reveal itself and he continues to thrive. He is the most wonderful boy and is a joy in my life.

My point here is that SDRD is an EXTREMELY responsible, caring, cautious, professional and respectful organization committed to the welfare and lifelong placement of their animals. In addition, HHHS calls upon SDRD frequently and places many of their dogs in SDRD's care when those dogs might otherwise be euthanized due to length of time at HHHS or lack of space issues.

Those who have posted hate-filled comments with vicious falsehoods about SDRD need to assure their information is based upon fact because NONE of what has been posted is true.

Having said that, there is another issue involved in this tragic situation. People must be responsible for their pets. Period. It is fair to say that SDRD may have misjudged the german shepard's behavior, and, then again, maybe not. It is also fair to say that maybe the owner of the tiny little dog may have misjudged a decision to bring the dog to a crowded parade while also sitting so close that the little dog was able to go into the parade area which is supposed to be an off-limit area for all attending.

The loss of a furry family member is overwhelmingly devastating and there are no words to describe the emotional trauma of the loss experienced.

What occurred at the parade was tragic for ALL parties involved. Period. Sometimes, things happen regardless of the safeguards taken. Animals behavior is not ALWAYS predictable and there is always a risk of the unthinkable occurring, it is rare, but it does, most unfortunately, happen.

Myself and other rescue volunteers (not associated with SDRD) have witnessed their practices, which is why we do not associate with them! Running a rescue properly requires a steady stream of donations and qualified volunteers/fosters. SDRD has neither. They WANT to do the right thing and know what that is (as you describe their written adoption policy), but they simply do not have the funds or volunteers to make it happen. They are putting the cart in front of the horse. You don't place a dog and THEN make the calls. I personally believe their rescue needs to be shut down. They have made too many poor choices and refuse to step back and re-evaluate. They refuse to attend classes, refuse to do additional research, and refuse to get with the times on healthcare and proper nutrition.

do you by any chance know what the plans are for the GS? I really hope that they will continue to work with him and that he doesn't get euthanized. I realize they are a no kill shelter, but I have no idea what their policies are with dogs that attack other dogs.

I still stand by the fact that the fault, if any exists, lies with whoever had the GS before the rescue and did not do what they should have done as a pet owner/parent.

Unless of course, the dog ended up in the shelter due to something that the owner couldn't control..... I just wish people would be more responsible with their pets and realize what they are getting into when they get a particular breed.

The only thing I can say that doesn't totally agree with what you posted is that the family of Toby insist that they were behind the barrier that they were told not to cross by the police and that the GS came over to them. It is just such a horrible situation all the way around.....

I just hope that the dog (GS) is taken care of because he still matters.

You might want to re-read my post; I was clearly posting my ACTUAL experience with SDRD. My experience has nothing to do with their 'written adoption policy'. However, if their 'written adoption policy' is what I experienced, then I guess they are walking their talk.

You have stated they place dogs, then make 'calls'. In my hands-on experience with SDRD, I have not seen, heard, nor experienced anything like that, not anything you have asserted. They have not only a multitude of volunteers but have many supporters, monetarily, as well as a solid network among veterinarians, groomers, PetSmart and several other pet venues, including their relationship with HHHS. Are you suggesting HHHS, several locally, well-established veterinarians, PetSmart, etc., are not respected within their profession and are not updated on healthcare and nutrition?

In the spirit of true fairness and transparency, exactly which rescue are you associated with?

Saving Death Row Dogs took dogs with checkered pasts into crowded, noisy, unfamiliar territory without properly providing for public safety (not debatable; proven by the death of the toy poodle).

The toy poodle was clearly placed into a crowded, noisy, unfamiliar situation without the owner safeguarding its' welfare (a dog that small could have been easily stepped on if someone had tripped, or worse - as happened).

The parade organizers allowed un-muzzled dogs to walk in the parade rather than requiring them to be SECURELY leashed on a float, out of the impulsive reach of young children, etc.

There is a lot of human failures that led up to this tragic situation.

The German Shepherd may well have felt that the tiny, animated fluff-ball was a toy to be played with, shaken, and tossed around. The toy poodle may have felt that he wanted to join the rest of the dogs. It is quite possible that neither dog was behaving inappropriately.

I lay blame on all of the people involved.
It is so sad that this avoidable tragedy happened.

...blamed the poodle for this incident. That just goes to show the insensitivity of this organizations leader. Glad it wasn't a little child that "ran up to the German Shepherd".

The German Shepherd has a history of not behaving with smaller dogs...why would they bring a dog with a history to a public event where other dogs (and people) would be? I put the blame solely on Director Price and whoever else was involved with the selection of this dog for the parade. I also think the German Shepherd should be put down.

And as others pointed out, why were the death row dogs or other dogs in the parade not muzzled? You can't make spectators muzzle their dogs but the parade organizers could have made the participants do so.

Just like some people who are on death row, some dogs who are on death row do not belong in society. Someday people will understand that not ever person or dog can be redeemed.